He’s known for keeping the media at bay, and holding tightly scripted public events, but now Prime Minister Stephen Harper is giving Canadians a peek into his day-to-day activities in a new online series.

Called 24 Seven, the series features an array of videos, pictures and music – the theme from the Maple Leaf Forever anthem plays in the background in portions of the first installment – showing what Harper does on the job, and, in a few examples, his free time.

The Prime Minister’s Office sent out a simple tweet this week announcing the series.

“Last week we launched 24 Seven, a weekly video magazine about what our gov't is up to,’’ the tweet said.

On the video for the week of Jan. 2 to 8, a female narrator starts off by saying: “Welcome to 24 Seven, a week in the life of the Prime Minister of Canada, and more.’’

The video includes images of Harper’s recent visit to Vancouver where he met with the local board of trade, and walking and holding hands with his wife Laureen during an event where he announced a new investment in the Trans Canada trail. There’s also a shot of Harper taking in a hockey game with his son Ben.

Harper’s spokesperson Jason MacDonald says the series will continue “as long as people find it interesting and useful.’’

MacDonald added that the government of Canada has a “responsibility to communicate with Canadians’’ about what it’s doing and what that means for Canadians.

“Increasingly, Canadians are looking for their news and information online, especially video content. 24/7 is just one more tool the government is using to keep Canadians informed of its activities, events and announcements.’’

Response to the initiative was mixed.

On Twitter many slammed the initiative as a propaganda ploy.

“Stop wasting taxpayer’s money!!’’ said a user named always_vote.

“I prefer to learn about the stuff you don't want us to know,’’ wrote student Harold Pliszka.

But Leah McMillan, an assistant professor tweeted: “This is such a great idea!!!!! Good summary, even if I don't always agree with your party outcomes. Thanks!”

David Soberman, a professor of marketing at the Rotman School of Management, says the video works because it’s a low cost way to “put information out there about what the Prime Minister is doing’’ on the job.

Soberman said decades ago, if someone wanted to know what former Canadian Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson did every day, the technology wasn’t there to show that.

The video will be especially useful to show young children and students what Harper does, and unlike political ads that come at you in the media, whether you want to see them or not, people will have to search for the 24 Seven series online, at their own leisure, Soberman added.

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